Meeting the Family

The woman's voice forced her to open her eyes.

Estefania sighed softly before stepping out of the bathtub.

The cold bathroom air hit her damp skin as she grabbed a large towel and began drying her hair slowly.

She looked at the wedding dress abandoned on the chair.

The white fabric was still wrinkled and torn on one side.

For a moment she remembered how nervous she'd been just hours ago, holding that dress in her hands, believing that getting married would be enough to change her life.

Now she didn't even know what to think.

Her gaze drifted to a white robe hanging near the sink.

She grabbed it without thinking twice.

It was enormous on her.

The sleeves covered part of her hands, and the fabric grazed the floor even after she cinched it tightly around her waist.

Estefania let out a small laugh when she saw herself in the mirror.

She looked like a little girl wearing borrowed clothes.

She kept drying her hair as she walked toward the door.

The moment she opened it, the woman waiting outside widened her eyes slightly in surprise.

Her gaze quickly swept over Estefania's wet hair, the oversized robe, and her bare feet.

"Hello," Estefania said casually.

The woman took several seconds to react.

"Um... good evening, Mrs. Castellanos."

Those words still felt strange to her.

Mrs. Castellanos.

She wasn't even used to hearing the name Rosales.

Much less that one.

Estefania walked slowly down the stairs while the woman kept watching her as if she didn't quite know what to do with her.

When she reached the living room, she found Alexander sitting next to another man with an elegant look and a relaxed smile.

The stranger looked up.

And froze completely when he saw her coming down the stairs wrapped in nothing but that white robe.

Alexander's expression hardened immediately.

His dark eyes swept quickly over the scene.

The wet hair.

The bare feet.

The robe that was far too big.

And Jose's shamelessly amused stare.

"That's how you're going to meet my parents?"

His voice came out cold. Authoritative.

Estefania stepped off the last stair feeling suddenly uncomfortable.

"I mentioned that I lost my suitcase... I don't have any clothes."

She said it while fidgeting nervously with her fingers.

Alexander closed his eyes for a second and ran a hand over his face with obvious exhausted patience.

"Dana, order some clothes for—"

"For your wife," Jose cut in, amused.

Alexander shot him a withering look.

He knew perfectly well how much he hated that word.

Wife.

It sounded too permanent.

Too real.

Dana nodded quickly before heading toward the upper floor.

"Go change."

Estefania didn't argue.

In fact, she was grateful for an excuse to escape that uncomfortable tension.

She went back upstairs, and once inside the bedroom, she closed the door softly.

The silence wrapped around her again.

She picked up the wedding dress carefully and folded the fabric slowly before tucking it into a corner of the closet.

For some reason, she didn't want to throw it away.

She sat on the enormous bed and stared at the wedding band on her finger.

The ring fit slightly tight.

She turned it slowly while she sighed.

She still couldn't believe she was actually married.

Married to a man she barely knew.

And who clearly didn't want her anywhere near him.

Her gaze fell to the heels.

Just looking at them made her feet hurt again.

The small blisters were still burning.

"I'm going to die wearing those shoes..." she muttered to herself.

Meanwhile, downstairs in the living room, Alexander was starting to lose what little patience he had left.

He just wanted this night to be over.

Sign the agreements.

Keep up appearances.

And get back to work.

Jose watched his cousin's irritated expression with amusement.

"They say the richer you are, the cheaper you get," he said as he poured a drink. "I thought the Rosales were one of those families that blew through money without thinking. Couldn't they have sent her with more clothes?"

"I don't know and I don't care."

Alexander answered without giving it any importance.

Jose let out a laugh.

"Or maybe she didn't bring anything because she didn't even want to get married."

Alexander slowly raised his gaze toward him.

"Her father called me."

Jose arched an eyebrow in surprise.

"What?"

"I imagine she threw some kind of tantrum before the wedding and they had to convince her with something."

Jose rested his arm on the armrest while shaking his head, amused.

"You've got your hands full."

Unlike Alexander, Jose enjoyed watching other people's disasters.

Maybe because the two of them were completely different.

Alexander was control.

Jose was chaos.

But they were still family, after all.

Dana passed in front of them carrying several bags before hurrying upstairs.

Minutes later, Estefania was studying the new dress in the mirror.

It was white, simple, and elegant.

Fitted at the top and falling softly to her knees.

She liked it immediately.

She combed her hair carefully in front of the mirror before letting out a resigned sigh at the sight of the heels again.

"I hate those shoes."

She put them on anyway.

She took a deep breath and left the bedroom.

When she started down the stairs again, Jose was already waiting at the bottom.

"Now you look like a millionaire's wife."

Estefania let out a small, nervous laugh.

Jose smiled, satisfied.

"I'll let the newlyweds travel alone. See you at your parents' house."

Alexander watched him with obvious annoyance.

Jose simply waved a hand goodbye before disappearing.

Alexander grabbed his cane and walked toward the door.

He opened the car door so Estefania could get in first.

She obeyed quickly.

When Alexander tried to get in after her, the cane got caught between the door.

Estefania reacted on instinct.

"I can help."

Alexander pulled the cane away before she could touch it.

The gesture was immediate.

Cold.

Almost rough.

Estefania slowly pulled her hand back.

She understood right away.

He didn't want anyone helping him.

During the ride she stayed silent, looking out the window.

The city lights still fascinated her.

The enormous buildings.

The packed restaurants.

The couples walking down the streets.

Then she remembered something.

She'd left her phone upstairs.

She shifted her hands nervously on her lap.

She hoped no one would go through it.

When they finally arrived at Alexander's parents' estate, Estefania got out quickly on the opposite side of the car so she wouldn't make him uncomfortable while he stepped out.

Alexander descended seconds later, adjusting his suit slightly.

Estefania watched him in silence.

Even leaning on a cane, he still looked imposing.

Intimidating.

His mere presence was frightening.

And she couldn't help wondering what he must have been like before the accident.

Because she was sure of one thing.

That man wasn't born this way.

Something had to have broken him.

"Are you going in, or are you planning to stay outside?"

Alexander's deep voice snapped her back immediately.

She walked quickly to catch up with him.

They went in together.

But the moment she crossed the threshold, Estefania stopped.

Everything was too different from the cold silence she was used to.

She clenched her hands slightly.

The small knot in her stomach returned.

Alexander's parents were already waiting outside.

Alexander's mother smiled faintly when she saw her.

"Your in-laws are here."

Estefania's heart raced immediately.

That meant he was there.

Her father.

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